Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013

Top Down Construction Alongside Of Bosphorus A Case Study

Construction en Top - Down le long du Bosphore - Une tude de cas
Turan Durgunoglu, Prof. CE, Ph.D., D.GE., F.ASCE
Zetas Zemin Teknolojisi A.S., Istanbul, Turkey, durgunoglut@zetas.com.tr

Fatih Kulac, MSc., CE,

Zetas Zemin Teknolojisi A.S., Istanbul, Turkey, kulacfatih@zetas.com.tr

Selim Ikiz, MSc., CE,

Zetas Zemin Teknolojisi A.S., Istanbul, Turkey, selim.ikiz@zetas.com.tr

Onder Akcakal, MSc., CE,

Zetas Zemin Teknolojisi A.S., Istanbul, Turkey, onder.akcakal@zetas.com.tr
ABSTRACT: Hatice Sultan and Fehime Sultan Residences are two historical Ottoman waterfront mansions placed on the European
shore of Bosphorus in Istanbul. Within the restoration campaign of these mansions, it is planned to add four basement levels under the
complete plot with the exception of preserved two corners where Hatice Sultan Residence and an old and large tree exist. The depth of
the excavation needed for the basements is about 24 m below ground surface of which 21.20 m will be below groundwater level. The
excavation should take place just 75 m far from the southwest pylon of the Bosphorus Suspension Bridge. Soil profile consists of
uncontrolled fill, marine alluvium layer and bedrock which is sloped towards the seaside with a varying inclination. Steel propping
system was set forth by the geotechnical design group of the Client, though this method was eliminated later during the bidding stage,
because it was found impractical due to their obstacle in basement construction. The method of top-down construction of the
basement levels with permanent diaphragm wall and bored piles socketed into bedrock was agreed to be realized by the Client based
on the alternative proposal given by the foundation subcontractor during the bidding stage. THY -Do&Co JV Ortakoy Hotel Project is
an interesting case-study where a challenging supporting system is being implemented near the Bosphorus in very poor soil
conditions, under high seismicity.
RSUM : Les Rsidences de Hatice Sultan et de Fehime Sultan sont deux yalis Ottomanes historiques situes sur la cte
Europenne du Bosphore, Istanbul. Le projet de rnovation de ces yalis prvoit dajouter quatre tages en sous-sol sous lensemble
du terrain, lexception de deux zones prserves o sont situs la Rsidence de Hatice Sultan et un arbre centenaire. Une excavation
de 24m sous le niveau du terrain naturel est requise pour la ralisation des sous-sols dont environ 21,20 m sous le niveau de la nappe
phratique. Lexcavation aura lieu tout juste 75 m du pylne sud-ouest du Pont sur le Bosphore. Le profil du sol est constitu de
remblais non contrls, de couches dalluvions marins reposant sur un substratum rocheux senfonant avec une inclinaison variable
en allant vers le Bosphore. Cependant, le design initial du client bas sur la mise en uvre dun systme de soutnement en acier a t
plus tard cart car ne permettant pas la ralisation ultrieure des niveaux de sous-sol. La mthode de construction en top-down
utilisant une paroi moule et des pieux fors ancrs dans le substratum rocheux a finalement t slectionne par le Client, sur la base
de la proposition alternative remise par le sous-traitant lors de lappel doffres. Le Projet de THY - Do&Co JV Ortakoy Htel est une
tude de cas intressante pour lequel un soutnement a d tre mis en uvre proximit du Bosphore, avec des conditions de sol trs
difficiles et en prenant en compte de forts risques sismiques.
KEYWORDS: Top-Down Construction
1

INTRODUCTION

soil conditions, high ground water table and important

neighboring infrastructures. On the date of the paper
submission, the diaphragm wall construction was just finalized.
Therefore, only findings and implications of design and
methodology together with diaphragm wall construction are
presented within this paper.

Fehime Sultan and Hatice Sultan Residences are one of the

historical Ottoman waterfront mansions constructed alongside
the Bosphorus. These residences were constructed in the second
half of the 19th the Century by Sultan Abdulhamid II as a
wedding present for two daughters of Sultan Murat V. Later on,
Fehime Sultan Residence was given as a gift to Gazi Osman
Pasha for his success in Plevne Defense against Russian Army.
During the Turkish Republic period this mansion served as a
primary school and unfortunately was seriously damaged in a
recent fire in 2002. On the other hand Hatice Sultan Residence
served as an orphanage and then as private swimmers club in
the later periods. The plot has been recently purchased by
Turkish Airlines - Do&Co JV on BOT basis and is planned to
be restored and developed to serve as a boutique hotel. Ruins of
the Fehime Sultan Residence have been transferred to the
restoration workshop. This beautiful and historical mansion is
planned to be re-constructed using its original fragments.
Within this restoration campaign, it is also planned to add four
basement levels under the complete plot with the exception of
two corners where Hatice Sultan Residence and an old and large
tree exist. This deep excavation is agreed to be implemented
with the Top-Down construction method because of the poor

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Fehime Sultan and Hatice Sultan residences are located in

district of Ortakoy alongside of Bosphorus and approximately
75 m away the southwest pylon of the Bosphorus Suspension
Bridge in Istanbul (Figures 1a and 1b). Within the restoration
campaign of these residences four basement floors are planned
to be constructed in the entire plot. The periphery of the
basement floors encloses the plot limit, except two corners on
where Hatice Sultan residence and a historical tree exist (Figure
2). Basement excavation will be realized under Fehime Sultan
residence location at the left in Figure 2 because ruins of this
residence as a result of fire have been removed to restoration
workshop area before the commencement of the works. The
perimeter of the excavation plot is about 372 m and the area of
the plot is approx. 6064 m. Site elevations are varying between

Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013

+1.00 m to +3.00 m. Excavation elevation is 21.20 m below the

sea level and maximum excavation depth is approximately 24
m.

encountered bedrock elevations. Typical soil profile is given in

Figure 4.

Figure 1a and 1b. General View of the Site Figure and Location of the
Site in Istanbul

Figure 4. Typical Soil Profile

Simplified average drained shear parameters of the alluvial

soil layers based on the field and laboratory testings are given in
Table 1. Ground water table is located within 1.0m to 3.0m
below the ground surface.
Table 1. Soil Properties
Layer
Uncontrolled Fill
and Marine Alluvium
Weathered Rock
Bedrock

Figure 2. Periphery of the Excavation (photo after the fire of 2002 and
before the start of the restoration campaign)

During the bidding stage, top-down construction proposed

by the foundation subcontractor was considered as a suitable
method under the existing conditions. Typical cross section of
the basement structures through the perpendicular direction to
the seashore is given in Figure 3. It is planned to use the
diaphragm walls as permanent periphery walls of the basement
floors, construct the bored piles as permanent columns of the
underground structure and integrate the foundation and slabs
with the permanent wall and columns during the top-down
construction method. This choice resulted in the necessity to
develop special details for ground water isolation and continuity
of the structural elements.

(kN/m
)

()

c
(kN/m)

18

28

22
24

33
33

20
50

PRELIMINARY DESIGN

The preliminary retaining system has been proposed by a

geotechnical design group employed by the Client prior to the
tender, which consisting a peripheral diaphragm wall and
tubular steel struts. Diaphragm wall thickness was considered as
800 mm and planned to be used only temporarily during the
excavation. To support the diaphragm wall, four rows of steel
struts are proposed to be implemented. The spacing between the
struts was 5.0 m in vertical and 8.20 m in horizontal directions.
Typical cross section of the tender design is given in Figure 5.

Figure 3. Section of the Basement Structure in Perpendicular to the

Seashore
Figure 5. Tender Design Typical Cross Section

GEOTECHNICAL MODELLING

Complete underground structure were planned to be

constructed 21.20 m below the water table. As a result, the
uplift of the underground structure is one of the critical issues
for the design.

Within the soil investigations ten boreholes were implemented

with a maximum length of 50 m. Two of the boreholes adjacent
to the seaside were implemented with 45 inclination and length
of these boreholes was 100 m. Also within the geophysical
measurements, MASW and microtremor studies are
implemented in the site to obtain the geodynamic modeling of
subsoils.
Soil profile consists in sequence from top to down as of
uncontrolled fill, marine alluvium and bedrock. Dyke, sandstone
and shale are the commonly encountered rock types at the site.
According to the results of vertical boreholes at the site bedrock
is located between 13.50 m and 27.20 m under the sea level.
Therefore length of the diaphragm wall and bored piles are
chosen variable from one location to another in accordance to

PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE DESIGN

During the bidding stage the applicability towards the

construction of underground structure and the cost of the tender
design was examined. One of the drawbacks realized was that
the space between the steel tubular struts was very limited to
implement the excavation works in a safe and efficient manner.
As a result, alternative top-down construction method was
proposed to eliminate the implications of steel struts. Further, in
order to eliminate the gravel filled between the walls; namely

Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013

gravel pool, proposed in the preliminary design, uplift loads are

proposed to be taken by tension piles under the foundation.
As described in the previous sections, the site is located in a
densely populated urban zone and there are important
neighboring infrastructures around the plot. In order to
minimize the lateral displacements to be realized during
excavation implication of the proposed top down procedure was
very effective and superior compare to strutted excavation.
In the proposed top down method permanent diaphragm
walls and piles are to be constructed prior to excavation works.
Later ground level r. c. floor will be constructed except the part
behind the Hatice Sultan residence (Figure 6).

which are already placed in these elements. Details of these link

reinforcements are given in the next section.
After the top down construction steps the limited area
behind the Hatice Sultan Residence will be constructed with
conventional method from bottom to top in parallel to
dissembling the steel struts. Special water-proofing works will
also be implemented under the foundation and on the
constructive inner wall during the down to top construction
steps.
6

CONSTRUCTION STAGE OF DIAPHRAGM WALLS

At the time of paper submission, diaphragm wall construction

was just completed and preparations have been realized to
initiate the piling works. Therefore only diaphragm wall
construction stage would be covered within the paper.
To implement the diaphragm wall in required socket lengths
in the bedrock formation, hydrofraise machine was mobilized
for this project having 81 kNm max. torque per gear box, and 25
rpm max. revolution, with a max cutting depth capacity of 70m
(Figure 8).
Figure 6. Top Down Construction Area

Soil under the ground level floor will be excavated phase by

phase until the bottom elevation of foundation. In parallel to
excavation works 1st basement r. c. floor will be constructed.
The part of limited excavation plot behind the Hatice Sultan
Residence will be supported with steel struts to provide space
for ramps which will be used for the transportation of the
excavated material. Top down construction steps will continue
similarly as 2nd basement floor 3rd basement floor and
foundation respectively (Figure 7).

Figure 8. Diaphragm Wall Machine, Hydrofraise-Cutter

Another reason of implementing the hydrofraise-cutter

machine was to provide a better verticality control during the
construction of the permanent diaphragm walls. The verticality
was monitored parallel to diaphragm wall excavation and
direction of the cutter controlled with the help of the flaps on
the edges (Figures 9a and 9b).
Figure 7. Top Down Construction Steps

Groundwater seepage into the excavation site is evaluated

by seepage analysis and optimum socket length in to the
bedrock is determined as 5.0 m. Also settlements due to the
lowering groundwater table are estimated and found to be less
than 18 mm which is considered as tolerable for the existing
structures.
Bored piles are designed to be used as compression and
tension members depending on the loading conditions.
Therefore, piles which will act as permanent columns of the
underground structure are extended into the bedrock having
minimum socket length of 6.0 m basedon the result of pile
tension test conducted at the site in order to satisfy the most
critical tension loading condition under the uplift forces.
Tension capacity of the piles are estimated and taken into
account against uplift forces.
In the top down construction, floor and foundation
reinforcements will be integrated into the permanent diaphragm
wall and piles with the aid of additional link reinforcements

Figures 9a and 9b. Verticality Control System

During the soil investigations encountered maximum UCS

values of the bedrock are given at the Table 2 below.
Table 2. Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) values- Mpa
Intrusive Dyke
Sandstone
Shale Sandstone
UCS
Value

Min.
0.7

Max.
65

Min.
3.6

Max.
160

Min.
1.0

Max.
67

Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013

The distribution of the UCS values with the depth is given

in Figure 10.

Within the restoration campaign of two beautiful historical

mansions from Ottomans alongside the Bosphorus namely
Hatice Sultan and Fehime Sultan, four basement floors was
planned to be constructed with a maximum excavation depth of
24 m. Tender design for the retaining system of this excavation
was temporary diaphragm walls supported with steel tubular
struts. Due to the lack of enough spacing between the struts,
applicability of the excavation works to achieve the desired
speed was found to be questionable. Therefore an alternative
system of top down construction method was proposed during
the bidding stage. Prior to the excavation, it is proposed to
construct the diaphragm wall and bored piles which will be also
part of permanent structure of the basement so a remarkable
saving and speed together with additional safety could be
provided to the project. Another benefit of this system was also
allowing extension of bored piles which are also columns of the
basement into the bedrock to have desired tension resistance
against uplift. This design gave a chance to eliminate the gravel
pool proposed in preliminary design and provided additional
space in basement floors. Integration of diaphragm wall, slabs
and foundation is realized with additional link reinforcements
and these reinforcements are placed in their for seen locations
during the cage preparation. Sheet piles implemented also
successfully prior to the seaside diaphragm wall construction in
order to eliminate the negative effect of sea. In spite of the high
UCS values it was possible to construct the diaphragm walls
socketing 5.0 m deep into the bedrock with high capacity
hydrofraise cutter diaphragm wall machine at a reasonable
rate. It is concluded that with the implication of top down
construction method, part of this challenging project is
completed successfully in economical, safe and timely manner.

Uniaxial Compression Strength (UCS). (Mpa)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
0
Elevation (m)

Dyke
-20
-40
-60

CONCLUSIONS

Sandstone

ShaleSandstone

-80
Figure 10. Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) Values with Depth

The socket length of the diaphragm wall is variable due to

the variability of the lithology of bedrock. It is estimated that
the minimum 5.0 m socket length in the rock formation will be
required. With the utilized hydrofraise cutter diaphragm wall
machine, it was possible to construct approximately 2.65 m/day
on plan (equals to 60 m diaphragm wall per day) in average.
To integrate the slabs and foundation with the diaphragm
walls additional link reinforcements are placed in the
reinforcement cage (Figure 11). It is planned to chip the
concrete on these elevations to bend the additional
reinforcement into the slab and foundation elements.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We would like to extend our great appreciation to Mr.

Hamdi Topcu, Chairman of Executive committee of Turkish
Airlines and Mr. Atilla Dogudan, Chairman of Do-Co
Corporation. The coordination and cooperation of Guryapi
Construction Company are also gratefully acknowledged.

Figure 11. Additional Link Reinforcements on the Slab Elevations

Prior to diaphragm wall construction on the seaside, it was

planned to implement sheet piles at the shore to remove the
large quay stones at the back side and to prevent the negative
fluctuation effect of the sea during the diaphragm wall
construction. Sheet piles also contribute to the overall stability
of the quay under the weight of heavy diaphragm wall machine.
Sheet piling application is presented in the Figures 12a and 12b.

Figures 12a and 12b Sheet Piling